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Coyote Hazing: Learning to Live with Urban Coyotes in San Francisco
We can either kill or remove the urban coyote or we must learn to live with them. Residents in San Francisco’s Stern Grove recently experienced two urban coyote attacks. In one attack a small dog was seriously injured, and in the other attack a small dog wandered away from its owner, into a spot where an urban coyote was lurking, but never returned. Both pets were allegedly unleashed.
Videos from the non-profit Project Coyote’s “Coyote Hazing” workshop that was held on October 7th, 2015 in San Francisco’s Stern Grove. Additional video and photos of urban coyotes in San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park. I have also attached flyers and brochures that can be downloaded. I am not associated with Project Coyote
Videos from the non-profit Project Coyote’s “Coyote Hazing” workshop that was held on October 7th, 2015 in San Francisco’s Stern Grove. Additional video and photos of urban coyotes in San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park. I have also attached flyers and brochures that can be downloaded. I am not associated with Project Coyote
Urban coyotes are everywhere, from Chicago, to New York’s Central Park, to Washington D.C. and finally in many of San Francisco’s urban parks. Their presence is a success story, but is still relatively new when it comes to people feeling comfortable with them during close encounters. Urban coyotes adapt well to urban environments, and they are good at staying illusive and avoiding human contact; however if an unleashed small pet dog wanders into their area a coyote will take the opportunity to attack it. Historically urban coyotes outlive the rural Coyotes with motor vehicles being the biggest threat to their lives. Urban coyotes are mostly nocturnal, but if they are habituated with food some will wander their territory during the day.
The non-profit Project Coyote, “is a North American coalition of wildlife scientists, educators, predator- friendly ranchers and community leaders, promotes compassionate conservation and coexistence between people and wildlife. As a national non-profit organization based in Northern California, Project Coyote works to change negative attitudes toward coyotes, wolves and other native carnivores by replacing ignorance and fear with understanding, respect and appreciation. All of our work through education, science, and advocacy strives to create fundamental and systemic changes in the ways wild carnivores are viewed and treated in North America.” More information can be found on their website. Project Coyote
As part of their mission Project Coyote creates workshops that teach residents or citizens how to safely co-exist with urban coyotes. One workshop called "Coyote Hazing Field Training" was recently held in San Francisco’s Stern Grove. The workshop aimed to teach dog owners and other residents what is coyote hazing and how it can be used to keep people and dogs safe when encountering an urban coyote. The alternative to learning to live with urban coyotes is simple. Gina Farr, Project Coyotes National Coyote Educator & Communications Advisor said “we would have to basically become killing machines. We could go into our urban parks and either trap or shoot the coyotes then put up fences and gates, and that would be the only way to keep them out.”
Coyote hazing is a tool that dog owners and other citizens can use to safely keep urban coyotes at a safe distance. According to Project Coyotes Coyote Hazing Field Guide, hazing is the act of “scaring a coyote away from you, your yard, or your neighborhood.” I have attached the coyote hazing guide in this post below. There are two types of hazing active and passive. Passive hazing entails that homeowners “remove attractants” to create less favorable conditions for urban coyotes. Passive hazing also means not feeding your pets outdoors, cleaning around bird feeders, and installing motion detection lighting or sprinklers. Active hazing means scaring a coyote away from you when one is encountered. Safe ways to haze a coyote are using noise makers, such as placing pennies in a can, using whistles, bells and or pots and pans. Another effective hazing technique is by acting big and loud, and waving your arms over your head, and make that coyote afraid of you, but do not throw anything at it. More information on the effective ways to haze coyotes can be read in the attached coyote hazing field guide. Please do not haze if you suspect a coyote is sick or injured and during the months March-July, which is when they den and possibly raise their families. It is not recommended that you haze a coyote if it is a safe distance from you, or your dog. A safe distance is 30 feet.
Urban coyotes inhabit San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park, Stern Grove, Pine Lake Park, Bernal Heights Park, Glen Canyon/Park, Lake Merced, Lands End, and the Presidio, They have also been seen in many other neighborhoods and parks within the City and County of San Francisco.
The non-profit Project Coyote, “is a North American coalition of wildlife scientists, educators, predator- friendly ranchers and community leaders, promotes compassionate conservation and coexistence between people and wildlife. As a national non-profit organization based in Northern California, Project Coyote works to change negative attitudes toward coyotes, wolves and other native carnivores by replacing ignorance and fear with understanding, respect and appreciation. All of our work through education, science, and advocacy strives to create fundamental and systemic changes in the ways wild carnivores are viewed and treated in North America.” More information can be found on their website. Project Coyote
As part of their mission Project Coyote creates workshops that teach residents or citizens how to safely co-exist with urban coyotes. One workshop called "Coyote Hazing Field Training" was recently held in San Francisco’s Stern Grove. The workshop aimed to teach dog owners and other residents what is coyote hazing and how it can be used to keep people and dogs safe when encountering an urban coyote. The alternative to learning to live with urban coyotes is simple. Gina Farr, Project Coyotes National Coyote Educator & Communications Advisor said “we would have to basically become killing machines. We could go into our urban parks and either trap or shoot the coyotes then put up fences and gates, and that would be the only way to keep them out.”
Coyote hazing is a tool that dog owners and other citizens can use to safely keep urban coyotes at a safe distance. According to Project Coyotes Coyote Hazing Field Guide, hazing is the act of “scaring a coyote away from you, your yard, or your neighborhood.” I have attached the coyote hazing guide in this post below. There are two types of hazing active and passive. Passive hazing entails that homeowners “remove attractants” to create less favorable conditions for urban coyotes. Passive hazing also means not feeding your pets outdoors, cleaning around bird feeders, and installing motion detection lighting or sprinklers. Active hazing means scaring a coyote away from you when one is encountered. Safe ways to haze a coyote are using noise makers, such as placing pennies in a can, using whistles, bells and or pots and pans. Another effective hazing technique is by acting big and loud, and waving your arms over your head, and make that coyote afraid of you, but do not throw anything at it. More information on the effective ways to haze coyotes can be read in the attached coyote hazing field guide. Please do not haze if you suspect a coyote is sick or injured and during the months March-July, which is when they den and possibly raise their families. It is not recommended that you haze a coyote if it is a safe distance from you, or your dog. A safe distance is 30 feet.
Urban coyotes inhabit San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park, Stern Grove, Pine Lake Park, Bernal Heights Park, Glen Canyon/Park, Lake Merced, Lands End, and the Presidio, They have also been seen in many other neighborhoods and parks within the City and County of San Francisco.
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